Merano: the spa town in South Tyrol

Mild and sunny: Merano lies at 325 m in a basin sheltered from wind and cold by the Texel Group to the north. Palms grow in the town, while in winter there is snow on Merano 2000. Spring starts early, summer gets hot and autumn stays warm for a long time. You can see the current weather at the top of the page and on our webcam.

All year round really, but Merano is at its best in spring, summer and autumn. From late March to April the orchards are in blossom; summer is warm, often above 30 degrees, so people head up to Merano 2000 or onto the shady Waal paths; October is Törggelen season, and the third weekend of October brings the Grape Festival. From late November the Christmas Market opens, and in winter Merano 2000 is a ski area. What's on now

The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, the Terme, the Portici, the Tappeiner Promenade with the Powder Tower, the spa promenade with the Kurhaus and the Wandelhalle. Add a Waal path and a day on Merano 2000. The sights

Both sides of what makes Merano: South Tyrolean cooking with dumplings, Schlutzkrapfen and speck in a farm tavern, chestnuts with new wine at Törggelen time in autumn, apple strudel and Krapfen – and the Italian side of the town: espresso and aperitivo under the Portici, pasta, pizza and gelato. With a glass of Vernatsch or Lagrein from the wineries around Merano. Food & drink in Merano

As a spa town: Empress Elisabeth came here for cures in the 19th century, and the Kurhaus and promenades date from that time. Today for the Terme, the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff, the Waal paths, the Grape Festival, the Christmas Market and the mild climate with palms in front of 3,000-metre peaks.

In town: the Portici, the spa promenade along the Passer and, above it, the Tappeiner Promenade with a view over the rooftops. Around Merano: the Lagundo Waal path through the vineyards, the sunny slopes of Scena and Tirolo, and Kratzberg lake on Merano 2000.

By train to Bolzano, from where the regional train takes about 40 minutes to Merano. By car on the A22 Brenner motorway to Bolzano Sud and then on the MeBo expressway. The nearest airports are Innsbruck, Verona and Bolzano. Getting here & parking

Merano has everything from a simple B&B to a five-star hotel; the best things cost nothing: the Portici, the promenades, the Tappeiner Promenade and the Waal paths. You pay admission at the Terme, the gardens and the museums.

Bolzano is the provincial capital, with Ötzi, the cathedral and the trade fair; Merano is smaller, quieter and built for relaxation: promenades, the Terme, gardens and the mountains right above the town. The two are 30 kilometres apart, about 40 minutes by train, so you can see both in one day.

The Adige valley; the area around Merano is called the Burgraviato. The Passeier Valley and the Vinschgau join it near Merano.

The Adriatic (Venice, Jesolo) is about 300 kilometres away, a little over three hours by car; Lake Garda is about 100 kilometres, around an hour and a half.

German and Italian, both official languages in South Tyrol; in Merano about half the population speaks German as their first language and the other half Italian. English is widely understood in hotels, shops and restaurants.

If you want to walk to the old town, the Terme and the promenades, stay in Merano, most quietly in Maia Alta. Scena and Tirolo sit on the sunny slope above the town with a view of the valley, Lagundo and Marlengo on the edge of the vineyards, Avelengo and the Passeier Valley already in the mountains. Our hotel selection

“Mairania”: that is the name in the first written record, from the year 857.